Keech Hospice responds to government’s hospice funding allocation.
The government has today allocated the first £25m of additional funding to hospices in England, following last year’s announcement of a £100m funding package, with the first 25% being released this financial year.
Keech Hospice, which provides free, specialist care and support for adults in Bedfordshire, and for children in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes, will receive an allocated amount.
CEO of Keech Hospice, Liz Searle, commented: “The news of the capital funding is certainly extremely welcome. Rising costs and the increasing demand for services have left hospices like ours facing significant financial challenges and having to make tough choices. This injection of funds therefore comes at a vital time. This funding has a specific purpose for buildings and infrastructure use only, so we continue to need the vital support of our community to continue to pay for our staff costs.
“We are very grateful for the additional funds, which will be put to excellent use in ensuring we can offer our patients and their families the best possible standards of service at what can be an extremely difficult time in their lives.
“While the extra funding is definitely a step in the right direction, we continue to campaign for a sustained level of government funding, which will ensure that quality hospice care will remain available today and for generations to come.”
Key facts
- Keech Hospice receives around 30% of its funding from the NHS.
- It costs £8m/year to keep Keech Hospice running and making a difference to local families’ lives when they need support most
- Keech Hospice’s services saves the NHS approximately £6.5m/year
